US President Joe Biden has terminated his re-election campaign and announced that he supported Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the Democratic nominee.
Mr. Biden, 81, said in a written statement on Sunday that it was “the greatest honour” to serve, but that his resignation was in the best interests of his party and the country.
The statement culminates a turbulent year in US politics that started with his sometimes confused debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27. Mr Biden has said that he would continue to serve as president until January.
Ms Harris, 59, said she was “honoured” to be backed, promising to “earn and win this nomination” and unify the country against Trump.
“We have 107 days until election day,” she was saying. “Together we shall fight. And together, we’ll win.”
While Ms Harris has received endorsements from many prominent individuals in the party, she has yet to be formally nominated, which may not occur until the Democratic National Convention in August.
Meanwhile, Trump has surged in polls and was certified as the Republican candidate at the party’s convention in Milwaukee this week, only five days after surviving an assassination attempt.
Following Mr. Biden’s decision, he said that the president “was not fit to run… and is certainly not fit to serve”. Other prominent Republicans followed him in their condemnation, urging Mr Biden to quit the White House immediately, not simply the Democratic candidature.
According to BBC sources, even top White House personnel and campaign officials were informed of Mr Biden’s decision only minutes before the statement was issued on Sunday afternoon, despite the fact that the president had talked with Ms Harris and a few others previously.
Dozens of top Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, swiftly welcomed the decision and Mr Biden’s achievements while in office.
Mr Biden has been under heavy criticism since his debate performance in June. Less than two weeks ago, he convened a high-profile conference with NATO leaders in Washington.
The event did nothing to assuage tensions within his own party, with him incorrectly addressing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “President Putin” and referring to Ms Harris as “Vice President Trump”.
During an interview, he said that only the “Lord Almighty” could force him to withdraw, but subsequently stated that he would consider doing so if he had a medical ailment.
